Winter hits homes and businesses hard

Schools aren't alone in suffering harsh conditions this winter.

Homes and businesses throughout Sisters Country have experienced broken water pipes as temperatures plunged, according to Roxanne Grier, office manager for Sweeney Plumbing.

"That's all we've been doing for the past week," she said - thawing and repairing frozen pipes. "Exterior walls are usually the most vulnerable. We'll see another round of this when the part-time (residents) come back."

Plumber Drew Saunders, said Sweeney's received a hundred calls for help with pipes on a single day. He urged residents to be patient.

"We'll get to you," he said. "Everybody's equal. It's all about helping the community at this point."

It's been a struggle for hardware stores and auto supply shops to keep needed items in stock. Sisters Rental has invoked a 24-hour limit on rentals such as snowblowers and roof rakes for the first time in its history, said customer service specialist Eric Spor. He said some customers have wanted to make money by clearing other people's roofs and driveways, forcing the time limit so everyone has a chance to rent vital equipment.

"I've got waiting lists on every piece of (rental) equipment," Spor said. "We're doing everything we can to help people."

Another problem, he said, is that suppliers have stopped producing snowblowers and snowblower parts for this season. Spor said Sisters Rental has sold twice as many snowblowers as in any past winter, but now can't get new inventory.

He added that Sisters Rental is fighting its own ice and snow problems.

"We've got (ice) damming and water issues," he said. "We have two rooms flooded. We're just like everyone else."

De-icer to melt ice on sidewalks and roofs was particularly in demand at Hoyt's Hardware and Building Supply, said sales and service representative Steve Cartwright.

"Roof rakes are a big seller which we're out of," he said. "We're also sold out of snow shovels."

Tire chains, batteries, anti-gelling compound for diesel vehicles, windshield scrapers, wiper blades and de-icing substances were popular choices at Baxter Auto Parts, said store manager Brad Grimmett. Like other businesses, they are trying to keep cold-weather staples on the shelves.

"The trucks coming from Portland are having trouble getting here," Grimmett explained.

Meanwhile, Joseph Haugen and Tim Hernandez spent more than four hours shoveling the roof of The Hen's Tooth on Thursday, January 12. They still had plenty of work left at 2 p.m. despite having begun the task a day earlier.

The Hen's Tooth was among businesses whose delivery schedules were out of whack because of road conditions. Its freight from California had been delayed several days as of late last week.

Mary Johnson, a clerk at Hen's Tooth and a 35-year Central Oregon resident, didn't mince words about this winter's weather: "The worst ever," she said without hesitation.

A few blocks away, Chris Bennett agreed with Johnson while resting from shoveling a snow berm at the end of his home's driveway. He's lived in Boise, Idaho, so he's familiar with snow.

But Bennett's had enough, too.

"The winters are challenging," he said. "Especially this winter."

And with rain and warming temperatures descending on Sisters Country, it looks like there will be a whole new set of challenges throughout the week and beyond.